2018 Volvo V90 Wagon

8.0

Overview

Looking for an alternative to luxury SUVs? Well, 2018 Volvo V90 is something you might be looking for. Volvo has continued it long booth tradition with the V90 and if you are wagon enthusiast, this midsize luxury wagon is something that you are going to lust for.

Starting at $49,950, Volvo V90 is offered in three trims and two engine options. The R Design and the Inscription both the trims are available with T5 that is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a T6-twin charged engine. T5 engine comes with front wheels drive while the T6 sends power to all the wheels.

The Cross Country meanwhile comes standard with a T5 powertrain and an all-wheel drive. Equipped with advance standard features and amazing built quality V90 impresses you in every aspect. Though it loses some points because of its limited cargo capacity when compared to other in the competition.

T6 Inscription 5dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A)

Expert Review

carhp editorOctober 3, 2018

8.0

Overall Rating

8.0/10Features

8.0/10Engine

7.9/10Fuel Economy

7.2/10Interior

8.0/10Exterior

Starting at $49,950, Volvo V90 is offered in three trims and two engine options. The R Design and the Inscription both the trims are available with T5 that is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a T6-twin charged engine. T5 engine comes with front wheels drive while the T6 sends power to all the wheels.

Features

8.0/10

The all-new V90 is available in three trims: R-Design, Inscription, and Cross Country. There are two powertrains available. The T5 is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with the front-wheel drive while the T6 is a turbo and supercharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with all-wheel drive. The V90 Cross Country trim meanwhile gets increased ground clearance along with all-wheel drive and T6 engine.

Trims

R-Design

Inscription

MSRP

$49,950

$51,950

Features

R-Design Grille

R-Design Leather Steering Wheel

12.3” Driver Display (Digital Instrument Cluster)

Laminated Panoramic Moonroof w/Power Sunshade

Linear Walnut Wood Inlays

Inscription Grille

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Cross Traffic Alert (CTA)

Sensus Navigation

We Recommend

Go with the 2018 Volvo V90 Inscription T6. It comes with the all-wheel-drive system and fitted with the right tires it can take on any weather condition. T6 is a 2.0-liter 4 cylinder that is turbocharged and supercharged. It churns out 316 horsepower and 295-pound-feet of torque and matches nicely with the already refined V90’s handling.

Engine

8.0/10

“The 2018 Volvo V90 has about-average performance, with two capable powertrains but a transmission that shifts inefficiently at times. The ride quality is comfortable, and the V90 handles well with precise steering and little body roll. Fuel economy with the twin-turbocharged engine is low for the class” - Cars.usnews.com

Engine and Transmission

The Volvo V90 comes with two engine options, T5 and T6. The T5 is a 2.0 L Turbocharged four-cylinder engine with front wheel drive layout. It produces 250 hp of power and 258 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive T6 trim gets a 2.0 L Turbocharged and Supercharged engine that churns out 316 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque. Both the engines are mated to an 8-speed Automatic transmission.

The base engine has got sufficient power for most of the daily needs. However, the twin charged engine is a better fit and provides instant power for highway cruising. The eight-speed automatic transmission feels slow to downshift at a lower speed.

Models

Volvo V90 R-Design

Audi A4 All road Premium

Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic

MSRP

$49,950

$44,500

$35,395

$63,050

Engine

2.0L 16V I4 Turbocharged

2.0L DOHC 4-Cylinder TFSI 16V

3.6L DOHC 24 Valve 6-Cylinder Boxer

3.0L V6 Biturbo

Transmission

8-Speed Automatic

7-Speed Automatic

6-Speed CVT Automatic

9-Speed Automatic

Power

250 hp

252 hp

256 hp

329 hp

Torque

258 lb-ft

273 lb-ft

247 lb-ft

354 lb-ft

Acceleration

The Volvo V90 T5 trim takes about 6.1 seconds to reach 60 MPH from a standstill. Though the acceleration is quick and speedy, the power delivery from the engine is inconsistent. It performs well at cruising speeds but sometimes fails to deliver when you want instant acceleration.

The Wagon also lags behind its competitors when it comes to covering a quarter mile. V90 takes 15.5 seconds to cover the distance while the Mercedes Benz E 400 does the same in 13.7 seconds.

Models

Volvo V90 R-Design

Audi A4 All road Premium

Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic

0-60 MPH

6.1 sec

5.9 sec

6.9 sec

5.3 sec

Quarter mile

15.5 sec

14.3 sec

15.2 sec

13.7 sec

Engine

2.0L

2.0L

3.6L

3.0L

Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)

6.5

7.1

8.0

8.4

Ride and Handling

The V90 wagon rides smoothly over most surfaces while the optional rear air suspension improves things further. Despite being the longest in the segment, cornering feels nimble and there is a decent amount of feedback from the steering wheel.

Braking

With a stopping distance of 110 feet, the 2018 Volvo V90 lags behind the Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic as it comes to a halt from 60 MPH in 108 feet. Brakes meanwhile feel firm and solid and there is also not much nosedive while braking at speed.

Model

Volvo V90 R-Design

Audi A4 All road Premium

Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic

Brake Front(in)

12.6

13.3

12.4

14.2

Brake Rear(in)

13.6

13.0

11.8

12.6

Curb weight(lbs)

3913

3825

3893

4299

60-0 MPH (ft.)

110

119

125

108

Fuel Economy

7.9/10

Despite its heft the V90’s fuel economy ratings are best in class. According to EPA, the wagon with front wheel drive returns, 24 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined. While the Cross Country brings those figures down to 22/29/25 mpg.

Model

Volvo V90 R-Design

Audi A4 All road Premium

Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic

MPG (city)

24

22

20

19

MPG (highway)

34

30

27

25

MPG (combined)

27

25

22

21

Interior

7.2/10

“The new 2018 Volvo V90 has an upscale interior with premium materials and a simple yet elegant design. Front and rear seats provide plenty of room and comfort for all occupants. The infotainment system functions well and is attractively modern, but the V90 has less cargo space than its competitors” - Cars.usnews.com

Seating and Comfort

The Volvo V90 comes with the best in class interior quality. The Elegant looking interior with modern tech and Scandinavian design makes it the best place to be in. The natural wood in combination with metal pieces will make you feel rich and your eyes sparkle.

The seats are the most comfortable ones you’ll find on any car. The long wheelbase gives the rear passengers ample amount of room to spread their legs. The optional features like heated and ventilated seats with massaging front seats adds to the comfort level. Seating feature includes:

Leather upholstery

14-way power adjustable front seat

Leather-wrapped steering wheel

Leather-wrapped shift knob

Model

Volvo V90 R-Design

Audi A4 All road Premium

Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic

Passenger capacity

5

5

5

7

Passenger Volume (ft cube)

98.4

N/A

104.5

98.0

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

37.8/57.5/42.2

39.2/55.9/41.3

38.3/58.1/42.9

37.5/57.8/41.5

Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

37.7/55.9/35.9

38.2/54.5/35.7

38.9/58.1/38.1

39.6/57.1/35.8

Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Infotainment

The standard infotainment system on the V90 feels responsive and incorporate features like pinching to zoom and swiping. The graphic is intuitive but it may take some time for you to find all the menus. Infotainment feature includes:

Two USB ports

Bluetooth

Navigation

Satellite radio

10 speaker audio system

A 3-inch digital instrument cluster

Cargo Capacity

Despite being the longest in the segment the V90 does not impress when it comes to hauling cargo. It has 19.8 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats up and 54 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Rivals such as Audi Allroad has 24.2 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats up and 58.5 cubic feet rear seat down. Subaru Outback meanwhile leads the class with an impressive cargo capacity of 73.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

Model

Volvo V90 R-Design

Audi A4 All road Premium

Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic

Behind Front Row(ft.cube)

54

58.5

73.3

57.4

With 2nd row folded (ft.cube)

19.8

24.2

35.5

35.0

Exterior

8.0/10

“The V90's wagon profile makes it look sleeker than the S90 sedan, a looker in its own right. The concave shape of the grille and the detailing from the lighting elements to the use of brightwork match the level of elegance inside”- Kelley Blue Book

Dimension and weight

It is stylish, strong and has a powerful looking exterior design. With the total length of 194.3 inches, the V90 is the longest car in this segment. It also has a decent amount of ground clearance while the front and rear skidplates signals its off-roading ability.

Model

Volvo V90 R-Design

Audi A4 Allroad Premium

Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic

curb weight(lbs)

3913

3825

3893

4299

Length(in)

194.3

187.0

189.6

194.2

Width(in)

74.6

72.5

72.4

72.9

Height(in)

58.1

58.8

66.5

57.7

Ground clearance(in)

6.0

6.5

8.7

6.0

Wheelbase(in)

115.8

110.9

108.1

115.7

Track width(in) F/R

63.7/63.7

62.1/61.7

61.8/62.2

62.7/63.0

Safety

Both the private and federal agency has not banged tested the 2018 Volvo V90 as of now. In terms of reliability, Volvo has covered the V90 with a four year/50,000-mile basic warranty.

Safety Features

Volvo is known for innovations in safety systems and they are the first in the world to get a semi-autonomous system, known as Pilot Assist, as the standard feature. It can operate at the speed of 80 mph and helps the vehicle accelerate, deaccelerate and come to a complete stop. But, it only allows you to take your hands off the steering wheel for 15 seconds. Some of the standard safety features are mentioned below:

Dstc/RSC Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control (RSC)

ABS and Driveline Traction Control

Side Impact Beams

Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags

Rear Parking Sensors

BLIS Blind Spot Sensor

Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning

Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags

Airbag Occupancy Sensor

Driver Knee Airbag

Back-Up Camera

Competition

Volvo V90 vs Mercedes-Benz E400 4matic

The Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic has a major advantage of accommodating 7 passengers in a car with almost the same dimension as of the Volvo V90. As an all-terrain vehicle, the Mercedes gets a bigger capacity engine than the Volvo. It's also faster in a quarter-mile and has a better 0-60 MPH numbers. Mercedes also offers better cargo capacity than the Volvo. But, if you are looking for a standout car with a premium built and finish. Consider Volvo V90 before going for any other car.

Volvo V90 vs Audi A4 All road Premium.

Audi is smaller, more powerful and more athletic than the Volvo V90. Both the cars have almost the same passenger volume but, the Audi Allroad gets more cargo capacity though being the shortest. The cabin inside the Volvo V90 is more plush and rich. Audi also costs a few thousand dollars less and is a better value for money vehicle.

Volvo V90 vs Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

If you don’t want to spend much and get all the utility as available in the Volvo V90, the Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited is the best choice you can make. Subaru costs almost $10,000 less and offers better cargo space than the V90. It also gets high ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive which makes it a perfect vehicle for an outdoor family trip or going for some off-roading adventure. If you are tight on budget and need a value for money vehicle, go with the Outback.

Final Verdict

The Volvo V90 is the best-looking wagon out there. It ranks high in the luxury wagon segment and gets a premium cabin, comfy seats, and potent engine options. It has less cargo space than most of the rivals and also has a high starting price but that is justified because of its standard features.